Seat.



No. 653,710. Patented .Iuly I7, 1900.

T. SWAN.

SEAT.

(Application filed Jan. l1 1900.; (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFtcE.

THOMAS SYVAN, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

SEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,710, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed January 11, 1900, serial .No, 1,046. (No model.)

T0 (tZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SW'AN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, county of Genesee, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Seats; and ldeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdest-ription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to seats; and it consists in improved means of constructing the same and also of a seat constructed in accordance therewith as an article of manufacture, as hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the interior of the back or of a seat detached from the framework which is usually employed to sustain the same and showing the means employed for producing the required quality of elastic stiffness, which forms the subject-matter of the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on lines 0: 0c of Fig. 1, showing the relations of the various parts.

In the drawings, A represents a base, preferably of heavy cardboard.

B is the outer covering of the front portion of the seat and which comes in contact with the person in the seat.

0 O are welts, preferably of leather.

D is a fringe of cloth which is returned back over the rear side of the back, completing the finish.

E is a leather strip constituting an elastic hinge and attached at one edge to the cardboard A, having an upturned edge e.

F is a covering made of w'ash-leather, enameled cloth, or similar substance and which forms an inside lining to the cloth covering B and protecting it from the material used in stuffing.

G is a strip of pasteboard detached from the basic piece A, but held thereto by its peculiar arrangement in combination with the leather strip E, the cloth B, and inside lining thereto, F. Heretofore it has been usual to make a base for backs or seats with a heavy wooden piece possessing sufficient thickness so that the cloth and lining material and welts could be nailed directly to the edge thereof; but in such case there was no elas ticity to the edge of the seat. Where a thin piece, like A,was used and not a piece of wood thick enough to nail to, as was the case sometimes, it left the edge elastic to a certain degree, but it would not preserve its form or shape. If means, therefore, was used to preserve the form and shape from being changed, it left the edge without any elasticity. On the other hand, if the edge was so constructed as to be elastic the form and shape could not be preserved, as the elasticity was not perfect enough to return the edge of the back to its normal and original position when once bent out of shape.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide means for securing the requisite elasticity and yet preserve theshape of the back or seat under all circumstances. This is accomplished by the combination of elements of the structure hereinbefore described, and especially by the insertion of the strip of cardboard G, which is held to the other material, including the welt and strip E, by being nailed through from the outside through the upturned edge e of strip E, as shown in Fig. 2, and clenched on the inside. If the strip G was a part of the base A, there would be no elasticity to the edge, because the form of the strip G and its integrity with A would make it rigid, and when forcibly bent out of shape it would remain so; but by having the strip G separate from A, except as it -is attached to A by the flexible strip E, it is allowed to turn at any point upon A as though hinged to it; but the curved form of the strip G is persistent and renders it elastic, so that it returns to its normal position when pressure on it is removed.

I have found by experience that the best material to use for the strip G is a good hard cardboard, as it is not only cheaper than anything else, but it permits nailing better than wood, which is liable to split; but wood, if it does not split, could be employed, and so could stilt leather. I do not, therefore, desire to confine myself to the material of which the strip G is made.

While backs or seats of this construction are readily and preferably made on a form, such as that shown and described in my Patent No. 632,475, dated September 5, 1899, yet

they are not necessarily so rnade, but may be constructed in any convenient manner. The patent referred to, however, describes a good method and form for making them;

That I claim is-- 1. In a seat, the combination of a basic plate, a flexible strip E attached to the edge thereof, a strip G, substantially at right angles to the basic plate, attached to the flexible strip E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a seat, the combination of a basic plate, a flexible strip attached to the side thereof, an elastic strip G, attached to said flexible strip and substantially at right angles to said plate, a welt and finishing-cover- 

